Ear-wearable device having tunnel with receiver coil

Abstract

An ear-wearable device includes a shell shaped for wearing in a user's ear. The shell comprises a tunnel wall shaped to define a tunnel that passes through the ear-wearable device. The ear-wearable device includes a receiver coil that is formed in or around the tunnel wall of the tunnel. The receiver coil is configured to inductively couple with a power coil via the tunnel and to inductively receive electromagnetic power from the power coil, and the receiver coil is configured to convert the electromagnetic power to an electrical current. The ear-wearable device includes one or more electrical components encased within the shell and configured to receive the electrical current from the receiver coil.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ear-wearable device comprising:
 a shell shaped for wearing in an ear of a user, wherein the shell comprises a tunnel wall that defines a tunnel; 
 a receiver coil that is formed in or around the tunnel wall of the tunnel, wherein the receiver coil is configured to inductively couple with a power coil via the tunnel and to inductively receive electromagnetic power from the power coil, and wherein the receiver coil is configured to convert the electromagnetic power to an electrical current; and 
 one or more electrical components encased within the shell and configured to receive the electrical current from the receiver coil. 
 
     
     
       2. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery, wherein the one or more electrical components are configured to transfer the electrical current received from the receiver coil to charge the battery. 
     
     
       3. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver coil is configured to receive data in the electromagnetic power and convert the electromagnetic power into the electrical current modulated based on the data, and wherein the one or more electrical components are configured to receive the electrical current modulated based on the data. 
     
     
       4. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the tunnel is a tunnel that is open-ended and passes through the ear-wearable device. 
     
     
       5. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tunnel is a vent, and 
 the shell is shaped such that during wear of the ear-wearable device, a medial portal of the tunnel is located inside an ear canal of the ear of the user. 
 
     
     
       6. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the receiver coil is larger than a diameter of the power coil, and wherein to inductively couple, the power coil fits within the receiver coil. 
     
     
       7. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the receiver coil is within a range of approximately two millimeters (mm) to three mm. 
     
     
       8. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver coil is formed by a metal that is covered in lacquer, and further covered in a Teflon sleeve. 
     
     
       9. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein a number of turns in the receiver coil is within a range of approximately 20 to 50 turns. 
     
     
       10. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shell comprises a faceplate and a shell component, 
 the shell component is shaped to define an interior cavity containing the one or more electrical components, 
 the faceplate is shaped to cover an opening of the interior cavity, and 
 the tunnel is formed through the faceplate and the shell component. 
 
     
     
       11. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein the ear-wearable device is configured to continue operating as a hearing aid while the power coil is coupled with the receiver coil. 
     
     
       12. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shell has a lateral surface and a medial surface, 
 the lateral surface of the shell is distal to a midline of the user when the ear-wearable device is worn by the user, 
 the medial surface of the shell is proximal to the midline of the user when the ear-wearable device is worn by the user, and 
 the tunnel passes through the ear-wearable device from the lateral surface of the shell to the medial surface of the shell and is open at both the lateral surface of the shell and the medial surface of the shell. 
 
     
     
       13. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , wherein to inductively receive electromagnetic power, the receiver coil is configured to receive modulated electromagnetic power, and wherein the receiver coil is configured to output modulated data to the power coil. 
     
     
       14. The ear-wearable device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a moveable object, 
 wherein a current through the receiver coil causes the moveable object to oscillate providing the user with a tactile stimulus for indicating a status.